News & Rumours
Feb 26, 2006
caroline
10 Comments

Transcript of Bono’s effing NME Award speech

Regular readers may remember an earlier story here on U2log.com where we said we had learned Bono had recorded a speech to introduce Bob Geldof at the Meteor Awards. It now appears our information was slightly off mark – it was the NME Awards (February 23) the speech was used at and Geldof was there to accept an award for the Live 8 DVD. Bono’s speech made the news earlier this month for being riddled with profanity. We haven’t got video evidence for you yet, but here’s a transcript – not for the faint of heart:

Presenter: “Now to introduce our next winner we have a special guest, live via satellite orbitting his own ego…”

Bono: “You see, different people have differing abilities to get across the drama, the tension, the percussive qualities of the word ‘fuck’. I’ve tried, but I’m but a student. I’m not fit to touch the hem of this master of the word ‘fuck’: my friend Bob.”

“You see, from his lips it’s onomatopoeia, it’s a poetic device, it’s tragic comedy, it’s violence AND compassion. Bob Geldof has told me to fuck off perhaps hundreds, maybe even thousands of times. The same for Richard Curtis, the same for everybody in Make Poverty History.”

“”Fuck fuck, fuck fuck. Fuck fuck fuck off,” he said. I’m so very pleased that upon asking Bob to do Live 8, we did not listen when he told us to fuck off. And I hope he is too. Because a cheque worth 50 billion dollars has been signed for the poorest people on the planet. Signed but not cashed. Every time somebody buys one of these Live 8 DVDs we’ll put pressure on the politicians to cash the cheque. Thank you very much for this award. And to my friend who is picking it up in all our honour:… Fuck. Off.”

See also:

10 Comments

  • Spike February 26, 2006 at 11:57 pm

    This is the transcript of the speech Bono made at the NME awards.

  • Spike February 26, 2006 at 11:57 pm

    This is the transcript of the speech Bono made at the NME awards.

  • Caroline February 27, 2006 at 12:04 am

    *Whistles*

  • Caroline February 27, 2006 at 12:04 am

    *Whistles*

  • watts4u2 February 27, 2006 at 2:48 pm

    Bono had been so effing good in the USA, avoiding the f-word at the Grammies despite having to accept five effing awards. Looks like he saved all the effing f’s for the Europeans, and mostly gave credit for them to his effing buddy Geldof. I smell effing Nobels for the both of the effing f’ers.

  • watts4u2 February 27, 2006 at 2:48 pm

    Bono had been so effing good in the USA, avoiding the f-word at the Grammies despite having to accept five effing awards. Looks like he saved all the effing f’s for the Europeans, and mostly gave credit for them to his effing buddy Geldof. I smell effing Nobels for the both of the effing f’ers.

  • drealynn42 February 27, 2006 at 7:09 pm

    You can download video of the speech over at u2torrents.com

  • drealynn42 February 27, 2006 at 7:09 pm

    You can download video of the speech over at u2torrents.com

  • R March 1, 2006 at 12:47 am

    I thought Bono said something about being a “new man” and not going to swear so much anymore? He must have had a relapse or something.

  • R March 1, 2006 at 12:47 am

    I thought Bono said something about being a “new man” and not going to swear so much anymore? He must have had a relapse or something.

Permanent Hiatus

Thank you for visiting U2log.com today and your patronage over the last decade. The time has come for us to call it a day. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye and thank you again.

Team U2log
PS, we may not be blogging here, but we're still somewhat active on Twitter and daily links should still appear on this page.

Gavin Friday - 'catholic'

Buy from iTunes (USA)

iTunes (USA)
iTunes (UK)
iTunes (Canada)

Archives

RSS U2 News Links

  • Column: off the record..., vol. 12-515 May 21, 2012
    It is that time of the year again when fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new fan club CD and getting frustrated wondering when it will arrive. Given the past history of difficulties with these CDs, it is no surprise that people do get worried. The subscriber CDs started with U2.Communication, […]
  • Burma’s Suu Kyi set to visit here May 19, 2012
    Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi could visit Ireland next month to receive a prestigious human rights honour. […]
  • Facebook floatation: I won’t be richer that the Beatles says Bono after $1.5bn payday May 19, 2012
    IT was a date that had been highlighted in finance businesses all over the world, as Facebook finally started trading on the stock market, making millions for investors. […]
  • Paul McGuinness vs The Black Catholics May 19, 2012
    Paul McGuinness recounted last week how he once took on a gang known as The Black Catholics who were notorious for breaking up early U2 gigs. […]
  • VIDEO: Early U2 Photo Exhibit in Dublin May 18, 2012
    As we’ve reported on the main site, photographer Patrick Brocklebank is displaying a collection of his U2 photos taken in and around Dublin between 1978 and 1981. U2 manager Paul McGuinness helped open the exhibit back on May 10, and Brian Foley put together this video showing some of McGuinness’ opening remarks, as well as [...]This is a post from the @U2 b […]